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Do tourists need to carry passport in France?

U.S. citizens on tourist status should thus have a valid passport, as the French officers do not recognize other identification documents. And in rare cases, those on visa status must present their visa documentation alongside their passports.



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U.S. citizens on tourist status should thus have a valid passport, as the French officers do not recognize other identification documents. And in rare cases, those on visa status must present their visa documentation alongside their passports.

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So, should you carry your passport with you in France? Yes, and no. French laws require that citizens and foreigners have valid identification documents when moving around. Moreover, they may also require evidence of legal status, which law officers can request at any time.

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Should You Carry Your Passport With You in Europe? A passport serves many roles, but most importantly, it identifies travelers in foreign countries. Moreover, per international air travel standards, all passengers must have passports. Even if you plan to cruise to Europe and back, most cruise lines require a passport.

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Documents for Driving in France
  • A valid full (not provisional) driving licence.
  • A vehicle registration document (V5c) - the original not a copy, called carte grise (grey card) in France.
  • A motor insurance certificate.
  • Passport(s)


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If your room has a safe, definitely leave the passport there. I once had a passport stolen, and getting temporary travel papers was a big hassle. I carry a driver's license on me and a photocopy of my passport on my phone. That plus looking like a tourist should be enough.

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Hotels do not keep your passport during your stay. They often will ask to see your passport when you check in. The reason is twofold: Hotels are required by state law to maintain a register of their guests, and keep that record for a certain time.

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Your arrival in France
  • A valid passport issued less than 10 years before and valid for at least 3 months after the envisaged departure date;
  • A valid visa, if required;


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Border crossings Spain has FOUR European land borders. Two are with Schengen countries (France and Portugal), so routine immigration and customs checks do not take place on crossing the border - see the Schengen Agreement section below for more information.

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Carry a photocopy of your passport in your luggage, in case you lose your real passport or it gets stolen. Carry some other kind of official document, like a driver's license, so if you lose your passport and have to go to your embassy, you have something official to back up your real identity.

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Mobile Passport Control (MPC) allows eligible travelers to submit their travel document, photo, and customs declaration information through a free, secure app on their smartphone or other mobile device.

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Yes, it will show up as an object made of (probably) paper, maybe with a chip in it. The chip might give it away as specifically a passport, if the security person manning the system was actually looking for that. But their primary role is to look for weapons and other potential hazards to flight safety.

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As long as you are a tourist and have a valid driver's license written in the Roman alphabet from your country, you don't need to carry an international driving permit to drive in France. The minimum age to drive in France is 18 years old.

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There is no “right turn on red” in France. A yellow flashing arrow means that you can drive in the arrow's direction, with caution, even though the other lights may be red. Headlights are mandatory when it is raining. On multi-lane roads and highways, slower traffic always stays to the right.

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To avoid losing your passport at the airport, never leave the document in the pocket of your pants or coat. You'll want to designate a single compartment either in your personal bag or carry-on where your passport goes every single time you take it out and put it back.

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